A cloud service provider has called for the creation of a "cloud integrator" to help businesses juggling multiple cloud platforms.
Adapt’s snapshot survey of British businesses suggests that nearly two-thirds are using more than one cloud provider.
At least 75% of 102 firms surveyed have some services based in the cloud, but use a mix of public, private or hybrid cloud providers, while 25% do not believe their providers will be able to meet their business demands in a year’s time.
Stewart Smythe, CEO at Adapt, the cloud services provider that carried out the survey, said having multiple cloud providers left companies in an "inefficient balancing act".
He added: "Each separate supplier is left with an incomplete picture of the customer and the platforms provided therefore do not align with the customer’s long-term growth strategy.
"This is leading to businesses constantly striving for something that cannot be achieved and ultimately the feeling that they need to change providers."
He suggested businesses could solve the problem with a "cloud integrator" – a middle man that helps businesses identify, use and manage the right cloud platforms for their needs.
Philip Carse, principle analyst at Megabuyte, added: "These ‘integrators’ will act as a point of contact for ongoing management, support, consultancy and service development. The cloud market itself is an active one, with around 200 service providers operating in the space and M&As regularly taking place.
"It’s possible that those providers that can’t offer the high-level management layer necessary will be absorbed by others operating as ‘cloud integrators’ in the next five years."
